Editorial : The virtues of abiding by the Dhamma

23 May 2013 07:44 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

‘Those who abide by the Dhamma are protected by the Dhamma,’ is a line that seems to be popular among Buddhists who own cars and are want to declare their faith with stickers. It is human to declare one’s identity one way or another. This is a phenomenon that is common in all communities, be it religion, ethnic identity or even political loyalty. Notwithstanding the arguably irrelevant nature of such assertions as per the Dhamma itself, the line warrants reflection of a kind that is relevant to Buddhists as well as non-Buddhists.

Vesak is a celebration of three important moments in the life of the Enlightened One, birth, enlightenment and ascension to the incomparable and sorrow-less state of nirvana. In fact ‘celebration’ is a misnomer, for what best reflects the Buddha’s teaching is not celebration but commemoration by way of reflection on the Dhamma.
Perhaps as a consequent of living in an era with particular material, communicative and cultural realities and forces that intrude with and without permission on sense and sensibility, doctrine tends to play second-fiddle to pomp-pageantry type celebration of the doctrine. This too is not a Buddhism-specific or a Buddhist-specific phenomenon.

Lost in the glitter, though, is the word of the particular teacher. There is nothing in Buddhism that condemns or forbids entertainment of course, but the glitter of Vesak even as it is used (for example in pandols) to articulate aspects of the Dhamma distracts and prevents from straying from the path rather than encouraging deeper reflection.

Vesak decorations illustrate this well. Embedded in the process of making, decorating, lighting and eventual disintegration by the elements (fire at times, and sometimes rain) are fundamental tenets of the Dhamma such as the transient nature of all things. Even little children delight in making vesak koodu and decorating them; they grieve when the paper catches fire or if the rain soaks it into pulp, but they take away much more than what a long gaze at a Pandol will not yield.

It can be put down to aesthetics and changing perceptions of the same, but there seem to be more congruence with Buddhist teachings in lighting a simple and humble clay lamp at home than bedecking temple premises with rows upon rows of bulbs, painted in the nil, kaha, rathu, sudu and thambili of the Buddhist flag. It is probably not the case that Buddhists prefer one or the other of these kinds of pooja, but the glittering kind blinds in a way that the softer and reflection-yielding but less-decorative kind does not.

Decorative preferences aside, an important day like Vesak (like other days of religious significance for those of other faiths) are special in that they call for identity or faith assertion and underline the call for abiding by the Dhamma or the particular doctrine/philosophy. Predictions of what that does and faith in the same notwithstanding, it makes for a more wholesome engagement with both self and community.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Editorial : The virtues of abiding by the Dhamma

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

New Visa procedure implemented

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Wild elephants pull down 16 telephone poles

Middleman arrested for price gouging at Kalutara eatery

Bondholders’ agreement delay won’t hinder IMF third tranche payout: Dr. Coomaraswamy

Party leaders to shoot down MPs request for concessionary duty free vehicle permits

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings